"THE RED BOOK"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 15

"THE RED BOOK"

RULES OF RUGBY GAME

In its annual report the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Referees Association makes special reference to the new handbook. A sub-committee was appointed to revise the rulings and make suggestions for the publishing of the laws of the game in a manner that would meet with the requirements of the New Zealand Rugby Union, but at the same time em-j bodying at the end of the laws the essential notes and rulings that should be placed at the disposal of referees, /lhc suggestions made by the sub-committee have been adopted by the executive, and the next issue of tho handbook, which is now in tho hands of the printer, and will be issued shortly, will be different from any previous publication. The laws themselves will be an exact reproduction of the English Rugby Football Union's book, the latest copyof which has been received by the executive. This, of course, will be the official information in the handbook. At the end oE the handbook notes and rulings under each law of the game will be set out in alphabetical order, and will indicate tho infringements and penalties. Tho notes and rulings are issued solely for the guidance of referees and, in the mnin, are those issued by the Rugby Football Union. They have been carefully revised and duplication and unnecessary interpretations have been deleted where deemed advisable. The executive feels that the new issue of the "Red Book," as it is known in Rugby circles, will be appreciated by referees and trusts that it will help them to a bettor knowledge of the laws of the game. The arranging of the rules in alphabetical order does away with the necessity of an index, and should enable those desiring to do so to quickly turn up a law, its penalties, and interpretation. Appreciation is expressed of the work carried out by Messrs. D. M'Kenzie, E. S. Hylton, and G. E. Bradley in revising the handbook.